18ct. Diamond Smashes Estimate at Bonhams

RAPAPORT... An 18.04-carat diamond fetched $828,500 at Bonhams on Monday,
exceeding its presale estimate of $400,000 to $600,000, Bonhams said Tuesday.

The emerald-cut, G-color, VS2-clarity ring flanked by
trillion-cut diamonds led the company’s New York Fine Jewelry sale. It
was the first time the stone — which was from a private collection — had appeared
at auction.

“We saw some fierce bidding for this magnificent diamond and are delighted with how well it performed,” said Caroline Morrissey, head of sales for the US jewelry division at Bonhams.

At the same sale, a solitaire ring by Royal de Versailles
featuring a round brilliant-cut, 7.01-carat diamond garnered $275,000, beating its
estimate of $180,000 to $250,000.

Other notable items from the auction included a pear-shaped
brilliant-cut, 5.03-carat, D-color, internally flawless diamond-solitaire ring.
The piece went for $250,000, within its original valuation of $200,000 to
$300,000. A cushion-shaped modified brilliant-cut, 18.76-carat,
fancy-light-yellow diamond ring flanked by white, trillion-shaped diamonds fetched $231,250, smashing its estimate of $100,000 to $150,000.

The auction brought in a total of $4 million, according to Rapaport calculations, which Bonhams declined to confirm. The auction house will hold its Fine Jewelry sale in London on Wednesday, featuring a
24.31-carat diamond estimated at $1.7 million to $2.3 million.